TV-Series
Description
"Andersen Monogatari" is an anime series that adapts the timeless fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen into animated form. The narrative structure is episodic, with each episode presenting a self-contained story based on Andersen's works, such as "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Snow Queen," and "The Emperor's New Clothes." The series retains the moral and emotional depth of the original tales while presenting them in a format accessible to younger audiences.

The stories explore universal themes such as love, sacrifice, perseverance, and the consequences of vanity and greed. For instance, "The Little Mermaid" portrays the titular character's longing for a human soul and her tragic love for a prince, highlighting themes of unrequited love and selflessness. "The Ugly Duckling" follows a young bird ostracized for its appearance, eventually transforming into a beautiful swan, emphasizing self-acceptance and inner worth. "The Snow Queen" delves into the bond between two friends, Gerda and Kai, as Gerda embarks on a perilous journey to rescue Kai from the Snow Queen's icy grasp, showcasing courage and loyalty.

The characters in each story are archetypal, reflecting the moral and emotional struggles central to Andersen's tales. Protagonists often face adversity, whether through societal rejection, personal flaws, or external challenges, and their journeys are marked by growth and transformation. Antagonists, such as the Snow Queen or the vain emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes," embody traits like cruelty or foolishness, serving as foils to the protagonists' virtues.

The series maintains a balance between the whimsical and the somber tones of Andersen's stories, capturing both the enchanting fantasy elements and the poignant, often bittersweet conclusions. While the animation style and pacing reflect the era of its production, the storytelling remains faithful to the spirit of the original tales, making it a nostalgic yet enduring adaptation for fans of classic literature and animation.
Information
Andersen Monogatari
アンデルセン物語
Pixi in Wolkenkuckucksheim
Paramount Pictures Presents Hans Christian Andersen
Type: TV-Series
Anime Episodes: 52
Movie/Episode length: 26 min.
Date: 01/03/1971 – 12/26/1971
Official Website:“アンデルセン生誕200年記念”『世界名作童話 アンデルセン物語』
Categories
Genre
Adventure
Settings
Fantasy
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Episodes
Staffel 1
1The Ugly Duckling - Part 1
Two mice named Kanti and Jukko appear in a farmyard. They need to collect 100 good deed cards for admission to a magic university. A mother duck sits on a nest of eggs. One egg takes longer to hatch than the others. The chick that emerges looks larger and grayer than his fluffy yellow siblings. The other farm animals mock him for his different appearance. He wanders away from the duck family and encounters two aggressive cats. The cats chase him across the yard. The duckling pecks one cat on the paw to escape. His mother arrives and fights the cats. Kanti and Jukko roll empty barrels toward the cats,which scatters the attackers. The other ducks still reject the odd-looking chick. He decides to leave the farm on his own. The episode ends with the ugly duckling walking alone into a marsh as winter approaches, uncertain if he can survive the cold.
2Episode 2
The duckling leaves the farm after enduring continued mockery from the other barnyard animals. It wanders alone into a vast marsh,where wild ducks warn it of hunting season. Gunshots ring out across the water, and the duckling flees in terror. It stumbles upon a cottage occupied by an old woman, her cat, and a hen. The woman takes the duckling inside, hoping it will lay eggs. The cat and hen mock the duckling for its inability to purr or lay eggs. The duckling leaves the cottage and faces the winter cold without shelter. It nearly freezes in a frozen pond but is rescued by a farmer who carries it home to his wife and children. The duckling accidentally startles the farmer's children and escapes back into the snow. Spring arrives, and the duckling sees three magnificent white swans gliding on a lake. It decides to approach the swans, ready to accept death if they attack. The duckling looks at its own reflection in the water and sees a white swan. It realizes it has grown into a beautiful swan itself. Children arrive at the lake and throw bread and cake to the swans, declaring the new swan the most beautiful of all. The former duckling feels no pride, only gratitude, and thinks back to its time of loneliness and hardship. It joins the other swans and glides across the lake as spring fully blossoms. The episode closes with the pixies observing the transformation, and they turn their attention toward their next tale.
3Little Ida's Flowers
A young girl named Ida notices her flowers have wilted and asks a student who visits her home for an explanation. The student tells Ida that the flowers become tired after attending a grand ball held in a castle each night. Ida questions her father’s adviser,a stern man who dismisses the student’s story as nonsense. Determined to see for herself, Ida stays awake and sneaks into the room where her flowers are kept after midnight. She witnesses the flowers come alive, dancing and socializing with her other toys in a vibrant celebration. The student appears within the vision and reveals he understands the flowers because he speaks their language. Ida learns that the flowers willingly sacrifice their daytime beauty for the joy of the night’s festivities. The next morning, Ida does not feel sad about the wilted blooms and instead buries them in the garden. She promises to care for them so they can bloom again the following summer. Ida’s newfound understanding marks her shift from sorrow to acceptance of nature’s cycle. The episode concludes with Ida looking forward to the next night’s secret flower ball.
4Episode 4
5Don't Give Up - Mother
A mother watches over her young son who lies gravely ill. Death appears and takes the child,and the mother sets out to pursue them. She encounters a thornbush and agrees to warm the bush against her chest, drawing blood, in exchange for directions. A lake demands her eyes in return for carrying her across its waters. A greenhouse keeper requires her hair to reveal Death's garden. Within that garden, she sees her son’s future filled with sorrow. Recognizing that her son’s life would bring him more pain than peace, she ceases her pursuit. She releases her child to Death, who returns his sight to her. The mother returns home alone, having sacrificed her youth, her eyesight, and her heart’s warmth, but made the choice to let her child go for his own sake. The episode ends with the mother accepting her loss as an act of love, having learned that holding on would have caused greater suffering.
6The Little Mermaid
The mermaid princess swims to the surface and watches a ship carrying a prince. A violent storm sinks the vessel. She dives into the waves,pulls the prince from the water, and carries him to a beach. She hides behind rocks as a young woman from a nearby convent finds him. The mermaid returns to the sea, unable to forget the prince. She approaches the sea witch, who demands her voice in exchange for a potion that grants legs. The witch warns that every step will feel like walking on blades and that if the prince marries another, the mermaid will die and become sea foam. The mermaid drinks the potion. Her tail splits into legs, and she loses her voice. She wakes on the palace shore. The prince finds her and takes her to the castle. She endures the pain of walking to stay near him. The prince treats her as a cherished companion but announces he will marry the princess from the neighboring kingdom, whom he believes saved him. The mermaid sees the true princess is the woman from the convent. On the wedding night, the mermaid holds a knife the witch gave her. If she kills the prince, she can return to the sea. She throws the knife into the waves and chooses her own death. At sunrise, her body dissolves into foam. Instead of ceasing to exist, she becomes a daughter of the air, given a chance to gain a soul through three hundred years of bringing good fortune to children.
7Thumbelina - Part 1
A childless couple receives a visit from a witch who grants them a daughter no larger than a thumb. The woman names the tiny girl Thumbelina and cares for her with devotion. Thumbelina spends her days in a walnut-shell cradle and sings with a voice that charms everyone who hears it. The witch,who offered her help without revealing her price, returns to claim the child for her own purposes. She arranges for a frog to take Thumbelina as a bride. The frog seizes Thumbelina while she sleeps and carries her to a lily pad in the middle of a stream. Thumbelina awakens to find herself trapped on the leaf, surrounded by water with no way to return home. Fish in the stream gnaw at the lily pad stem, setting the leaf adrift and carrying Thumbelina further from her family. The current sweeps her into unknown lands, where she must rely on her own small size and quick thinking to survive. The frog’s persistent pursuit and the witch’s looming presence keep Thumbelina from finding safe shelter.
8Episode 8
9Thumbelina - Part 3
Thumbelina continues living with the field mouse after escaping the beetle. The mouse arranges a marriage between Thumbelina and her neighbor,a wealthy but reclusive mole. Thumbelina does not wish to marry the mole, but the mouse pressures her by emphasizing the security of a life underground. The mole visits and describes his dark tunnel home, showing little interest in the sun or flowers above ground. He presents Thumbelina with a dead swallow he found in the tunnel. Thumbelina discovers the swallow is alive and nurses it back to health during the winter. In spring, the fully healed swallow offers to carry Thumbelina away from the impending marriage. The two pixies, observing from a distance, realize they cannot directly change Thumbelina's situation but witness her decision. Thumbelina climbs onto the swallow's back, and they fly off together toward warmer lands. The mole and the field mouse are left behind as Thumbelina chooses freedom over a secure but joyless life. The swallow eventually sets Thumbelina down in a flower-filled meadow, where she meets a tiny flower prince who asks her to marry him, presenting a new path forward.
10Thumbelina (Flower prince)
Thumbelina flees the mole’s underground home when a swallow offers to carry her away. The swallow transports her across great distances to escape the mole’s pursuit. During the journey,the witch who originally delivered Thumbelina to the countryside continues her pursuit. Thumbelina lands in a flower kingdom where the king of the flowers discovers her. The flower king protects Thumbelina from the witch’s final attempt to recapture her. He offers Thumbelina a place in his kingdom and asks her to marry him. Thumbelina accepts, gaining a safe home and ending her long flight from unwanted suitors. The swallow, having fulfilled its role in her escape, departs to warmer lands. The flower kingdom’s inhabitants celebrate Thumbelina’s arrival and her union with their king. With the witch’s threat removed and Thumbelina settled among allies, the arc concludes. The next episode begins a new story involving the Emperor of China and a nightingale.
11The Nightingale - Part 1
In the Chinese emperor’s palace,the emperor hears of a small gray bird whose song surpasses all the court’s entertainments. He summons the nightingale to the palace, and its singing moves him to tears. He orders the bird kept in a golden cage and commands the court to listen daily. Merchants and dignitaries arrive from Japan, bringing a mechanical nightingale covered in jewels and gold. The artificial bird sings the same melodies without pause, never tiring. The emperor and his courtiers marvel at the mechanical invention and its predictable perfection. The real nightingale, seeing it is no longer valued, slips away from the palace through a window while the court sleeps. The emperor awakens to find the cage empty and, enraged, banishes the real nightingale from the empire. He declares the mechanical bird the new imperial nightingale, elevating it to a position of honor beside his throne. The court praises the emperor’s decision, unaware that the mechanical bird’s gears will eventually wear out.
12The Little Match Girl
A barefoot girl carries a bundle of matches through the snowy streets on New Year’s Eve. She loses her slippers while crossing a street,leaving her feet in the cold. No one buys her matches, and she fears returning home because her father will strike her for earning nothing. She crouches between two houses and lights one match to warm her fingers. The flame shows a large iron stove, but the vision fades when the match burns out. She lights a second match, and the fire reveals a roasted goose that walks toward her; the match extinguishes. A third match illuminates a towering Christmas tree decorated with candles, and the candles rise as stars when the match dies. She lights a fourth match and sees her late grandmother, the only person who showed her kindness. Desperate to keep her grandmother with her, she lights all the remaining matches at once. In the bright glow, her grandmother takes her hand and carries her upward, away from the cold and hunger. The next morning, townspeople find the girl frozen against a wall, a smile on her lips, with the burnt matches scattered around her. They mourn her death, but the girl has already joined her grandmother in a place without suffering. The following episode introduces a young prince whose arrogance places a kingdom at risk.
13Episode 13
Two porcelain figures,the shepherdess Ellen and the chimney sweep Chris, share a quiet life atop a chest of drawers in a grand room. Ellen’s grandfather, an old Chinese mandarin figure who nods his head, has promised her hand to a satyr carved into the front of an ornate cupboard. The satyr, a fierce creature with goat legs and horns, constantly leers at Ellen, and she fears him. Chris proposes they run away together. The two climb through the porcelain vase on the mantelpiece and exit through the chimney, emerging onto the roof at night. Ellen sees the vast, dark city below and becomes terrified of the unknown world outside her home. She refuses to go further and insists on returning. During their return down the chimney, Chris slips and breaks his leg. The following morning, Ellen’s grandfather discovers the damage and the satyr laughs at the misfortune. However, the mandarin’s head nods one final time, causing the satyr to fall from the cupboard and shatter into pieces on the floor. With the satyr gone, the old mandarin gives his blessing to Ellen and Chris, who are now free to stay together.
14The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep - Part 2
Ellen the shepherdess faces her promised marriage to the satyr carved on the old cupboard. Chris the chimney sweep proposes they escape together through the fireplace. The two porcelain figures climb the chimney shaft to reach the rooftop. Ellen hesitates at the top,frightened by the vast world outside. Chris reassures her and they slide down a chimney into a new room. A mischievous gust of wind topples Ellen from a shelf. She falls and shatters on the floor. The boy who owns the toys finds her broken pieces. He glues her back together and places her on a new table. Chris joins her there, and the satyr remains fixed to the cupboard door. Ellen realizes the accident freed her from her unwanted engagement without running away. The next morning, the boy discovers the two figures positioned together and leaves them undisturbed.
15The Bronze Boar
Marco wants to become a painter. His stepmother forbids him from pursuing art. She forces him to work as a shoe shiner to earn money for the household. Marco spends his days on the street shining shoes. He secretly draws sketches on scraps of paper when his stepmother is not watching. A painter named Angelo notices Marco drawing in the square. Angelo approaches Marco and examines his sketches. Angelo sees raw talent in the boy's work. Angelo offers to teach Marco painting techniques for free. Marco's stepmother learns about Angelo's offer and refuses to let Marco accept. She argues that painting will not put food on the table. Marco defies his stepmother and visits Angelo's studio anyway. Angelo gives Marco his first lesson in mixing colors and preparing a canvas. Marco returns home late,and his stepmother threatens to throw him out of the house. Marco faces an ultimatum: abandon painting or leave home. The episode ends with Marco packing his few belongings, ready to choose his dream over his family's demands.
16The Tinderbox - Part 1
A poor soldier named Hans returns from war and meets a witch on the road. The witch promises Hans great riches if he retrieves an old tinderbox from a hollow tree. Hans descends into the tree and passes through three chambers,each guarded by a progressively larger dog. Each dog sits on a chest filled with copper, silver, and gold coins. Hans places each dog on the witch's apron to pacify the animals and fills his pockets with gold coins. He finds the tinderbox at the bottom of the tree and brings it back to the witch. When the witch demands the tinderbox but refuses to explain its purpose, Hans cuts off her head. Hans takes the tinderbox and moves into the finest inn in the city, where he distributes money to the poor. One night, he strikes the tinderbox to light a candle, and one of the three dogs appears before him. The dog offers to grant any wish, and Hans commands the animal to bring the princess he saw in a dream. The dog returns with the sleeping princess and places her in Hans's room. The next morning, the princess tells the king about her mysterious nighttime journey. The queen ties a bag of flour with a small hole to the princess's back. The following night, the dog retrieves the princess again, leaving a trail of flour through the city. The king's soldiers follow the flour trail to Hans's door and arrest him. Hans awaits execution as the episode ends.
17The Little Match Girl
On New Year’s Eve,a barefoot girl in tattered clothing walks through snow-covered streets, carrying a basket of matches. Pedestrians brush past her without buying any. She lost her mother’s slippers earlier in the day, and now her feet leave red marks on the frozen ground. Fear of her father’s beating stops her from returning home, because he punishes her whenever she fails to sell matches. She curls up in a narrow alley between two houses, unable to feel her fingers. Lighting the first match for warmth, she sees a glowing iron stove; as the flame dies, the stove disappears. The second match shows a table with a roast goose that moves toward her, but again the vision vanishes with the burnt match. A third match reveals a towering Christmas tree decorated with candles and ornaments, its lights flickering out as the match expires. When she strikes a fourth match, her late grandmother appears—the only person who ever showed her affection. Desperate to keep the grandmother from fading, the girl lights all remaining matches at once. The grandmother lifts her into the air, and together they rise beyond the cold and hunger. At dawn, townsfolk find the girl frozen against the wall, a smile on her face and the burned matchsticks scattered around her. None of them see the visions she held in her final moments, and her death goes unnoticed except for the brief pity of strangers.
18What the Old Man Does is Always Right
An old peasant couple makes a wager: the wife bets a barrel of apples that no matter what her husband does at the market,she will find it right. The man leaves with his horse to trade. He first trades the horse for a cow. He then trades the cow for a goose, the goose for a hen, and finally the hen for a bag of rotten apples. Two Englishmen overhear the transactions and mock the man, betting a sack of gold coins that his wife will be furious. The man accepts the bet and returns home. The wife reacts to each trade with delight, finding reasons to celebrate each exchange. When she sees the rotten apples, she kisses her husband and expresses joy that his trip brought apples since she had nothing to offer their visiting neighbor. The Englishmen witness the couple's unwavering trust and pay the gold. The peasant couple ends the day with wealth from the wager rather than from trading. The next episode introduces the story of a shadow that separates from its owner and gains an independent life.
19The Shadow
20The Snow Queen
A shard from the devil’s mirror lodges in Kay’s eye and heart,freezing his emotions and making him dismiss Gerda’s affection. Kay follows the Snow Queen’s sleigh when she appears, vanishing from the town. Gerda abandons her home and rows a boat down a river to search for him, arriving at an old sorceress’s garden where time seems to stand still. The sorceress combs Gerda’s hair, causing her to forget Kay until a rosebush in the garden reminds her of their shared memories, prompting her escape. A friendly crow leads Gerda to a palace where a prince and princess offer her comfort and a golden carriage for her journey. Robbers ambush the carriage, and a little robber girl takes Gerda as her companion, but after hearing Gerda’s story, she releases her and gives her a reindeer that knows the way to the Snow Queen’s palace. The reindeer carries Gerda through frozen wastelands, past the Finnish woman’s hut, to the edge of the Snow Queen’s domain. Gerda finds Kay sitting alone on the ice, trying to arrange ice blocks into the word “eternity,” his body numb and his heart frozen. Gerda embraces him, and her warm tears melt the ice in his heart, freeing him from the Snow Queen’s spell. Together they leave the palace and return home, finding their grandmother still alive and the roses blooming as before. The episode closes with Kay and Gerda restored to their former selves, yet the Snow Queen’s cold power remains at large beyond their world.
21The Marsh King's Daughter - Part 1
Helga is born to the Swamp King. The king examines his newborn daughter and finds that she does not resemble his own grotesque features. His anger ignites immediately. He places a curse upon Helga,binding her to a dark fate. The curse alters her existence from the moment it is spoken. Helga’s mother, a princess previously held by the Swamp King, remains under his power as well. The episode closes with the curse fully enacted and its consequences left to unfold. Helga’s childhood under the curse is implied but not shown. The king’s spiteful action sets the story’s central conflict in motion. No resolution appears within this episode. Instead, the narrative establishes the origin of Helga’s affliction. The curse ensures that Helga’s life will be shaped by forces beyond her control. Subsequent episodes follow Helga at age fifteen, still trapped by the curse, as her foster father—a Viking king—brings a foreign prince into her world.
22The Little Match Girl
A barefoot girl walks through snowy streets on New Year’s Eve. She fears returning home because her father will punish her for selling no matches. She crouches in an alley and lights one match to warm her hands. The flame conjures a vision of a warm iron stove. Each subsequent match produces a new illusion: a roast goose,a grand Christmas tree, and finally her deceased grandmother. The grandmother represents the only kindness the girl ever knew. The girl lights every remaining match to keep her grandmother from vanishing. The grandmother lifts the girl, and they rise together, leaving the cold streets behind. The next morning, passersby discover the girl frozen against a wall, a smile on her face, surrounded by burnt matches. No one knows the visions she experienced. The episode concludes the adaptation of this tale, and the next episode begins a different Andersen story.
23The Marsh King's Daughter - Part 3
The Swamp King continues to hold Princess Helga under a curse,keeping her imprisoned within her dual nature. Prince Arsid, held captive in the Viking king's hall, recognizes that Helga suffers under an enchantment and refuses to abandon her despite her terrifying transformations. The Swamp King, seeking to uncover Helga's secret, attempts to use Arsid's love as a weapon to drive them apart. Arsid's persistent devotion weakens the curse's hold on Helga, revealing glimpses of her true self beneath the monster's form. Helga begins to understand that the love Arsid offers can break the Swamp King's power over her. The confrontation between Arsid, Helga, and the Swamp King reaches its peak as Helga chooses to fight against her father's will. The curse shatters, freeing Helga from the Swamp King's control and restoring her fully to her human form. With the Swamp King defeated, Helga and Arsid look toward a future no longer bound by the dark magic that separated them. The Viking king and his household witness the victory of love over the ancient evil that plagued Helga since birth. The next episode introduces Ole Lukoie, the sandman who brings dreams to children.
24Episode 24
25Episode 25
A self-proclaimed bishop enacts a reign of terror across the villages. He robs the inhabitants and steals a golden bell from the local church. The bishop's men kill little Jens' father during one of their raids. Jens witnesses the murder and swears to avenge his father's death. The bishop continues his oppressive rule,showing no mercy to the poor. Jens struggles with his grief and his desire for immediate revenge. The ghost of Jens' father appears to the boy in a vision. The ghost advises Jens against confronting the bishop alone. He tells Jens to seek help from the residents of a fishing village. Jens follows his father's advice and sets out toward the village. The episode ends with Jens beginning his journey to gather allies for the fight against the bishop.
26Episode 26
Jens receives a vision of his dead father. The ghost advises Jens not to confront the evil bishop alone. The father persuades his son to ask the residents of a fishing village for help. Jens follows this guidance and travels to the village. He gathers the villagers and explains the bishop's reign of terror. The villagers agree to join Jens in fighting back. They prepare boats and weapons for a sea voyage to the bishop's stronghold. The episode features Mie Azuma as the voice of Jens,Osamu Saka as Jens' father, Joji Yanami as the bishop, and Takuzo Kamiyama as Doctor Satan. The group sets sail toward the bishop's territory, carrying the stolen golden bell as a symbol of their cause. The fleet faces an impending battle against the bishop's forces, with Jens leading the villagers into direct conflict.
27Episode 27
28Episode 28
A mermaid princess observes a ship from beneath the waves and watches a prince celebrate his birthday. When a violent storm capsizes the vessel,she dives into the sea and pulls the unconscious prince to the shore. She hides among rocks until a young woman from a nearby temple discovers him and takes him inside. The princess falls in love with the prince, but she cannot approach him because she lacks a human form. She returns to the sea consumed by longing for a life on land. Determined to overcome the barrier between their worlds, she decides to visit the sea witch who lives in a deep whirlpool. The princess resolves to trade her voice for legs, knowing the transformation will cause her constant pain. Her choice sets the stage for a future confrontation with the witch and the risk of losing her family forever.
29Episode 29
30The Most Incredible Thing
31The Little Mermaid (Beloved prince)
The little mermaid Aqua resides in an underwater kingdom with her father,the sea king, and her sisters. She frequently swims to the surface to observe the human world, developing a fascination with a prince she sees aboard a ship. During a violent storm, the ship wrecks and the prince nearly drowns. Aqua rescues him, pulling his unconscious body to shore before hiding as a young woman from a nearby temple discovers him. The prince regains consciousness and believes the human woman saved him, never seeing Aqua. Aqua returns to the sea, consumed by her love for the prince and a desire to obtain a human soul. She visits the sea witch, who presents a dangerous solution: a potion that will give her legs but will silence her voice. The witch warns that if the prince marries another, Aqua will die and turn into sea foam on the morning after his wedding. Aqua accepts the witch's terms, trading her voice for a chance to win the prince's love. She drinks the potion and collapses as her tail splits into legs, leaving her stranded on the shore near the prince's castle. The episode closes with the prince discovering her there, unable to speak or explain her sacrifice.
32Promise to the witch
The little mermaid visits the sea witch in her deep-ocean dwelling to strike a bargain. She trades her voice for a potion that will give her human legs. The witch warns that every step she takes will feel like walking on sharp knives. The mermaid accepts the condition,believing the pain worthwhile to win the prince's love. She loses her tongue in exchange, becoming mute. The potion works, transforming her tail into legs, and she washes ashore near the prince's castle. Servants find her and bring her inside, where her beauty and graceful movements captivate everyone. The prince welcomes her into his household as a silent companion. She endures constant pain from her feet while hiding her true origins. The prince shows her kindness but speaks often of the temple girl he believes saved his life. The mermaid recognizes this misunderstanding but cannot explain the truth. The episode ends with the prince preparing to marry the neighboring princess he confuses with his rescuer.
33The little mermaid (Unhappy parting)
The prince prepares to marry Princess Milene,believing she is the one who saved him from the sea. The little mermaid watches the preparations but cannot speak to correct his mistake, having traded her voice to the sea witch for legs. Her silent presence at the palace brings her daily agony, as each step feels like walking on knives. She sees the prince’s joy and knows her own sacrifice remains invisible to him. Her sisters rise from the water and deliver a sharp knife from the sea witch. They tell her the only way to escape death at sunrise is to plunge the knife into the prince’s heart and let his blood drip onto her feet. If she does this, she will regain her mermaid form and live out her full three hundred years. The little mermaid holds the knife in the prince’s chamber while he sleeps beside his bride. She lifts the blade but cannot bring herself to strike, seeing the peaceful trust on his face. She leaves the room and throws the knife into the waves as dawn approaches. Her body begins to dissolve into sea foam as the first light touches the horizon.
34Episode 34
In a Greek village,children gather around a storyteller in the market square. The storyteller begins the tale of a statue that stands among them, a sculpture of a woman of remarkable beauty. He explains that a young sculptor from the village created the statue years ago. The sculptor carved the figure as a memorial to his great love, a woman named Psyche. The sculptor had fallen deeply in love with Psyche, but circumstances separated them before they could build a life together. Unable to forget her, he poured his grief and devotion into the marble, shaping her likeness so she would never truly leave him. The statue became his only comfort, a permanent reminder of what he had lost. The children listen as the storyteller concludes, leaving the sculptor forever tied to the memory of his lost love. The story transforms how the children see the familiar statue in their square, no longer just stone but a testament to enduring devotion.
35Episode 35
36Episode 36
Christine has left her home village and her childhood friend Ib,to whom she had promised marriage, behind to pursue a life of wealth. She marries a rich man, and her fortunes seem secure until her husband loses everything. With her wealth gone, Christine returns to the village in poverty, seeking only the humble life she once abandoned. Ib, who never forgot her or her promise, finds her and welcomes her back without reproach. His father had previously opposed the match due to their lack of means, but the circumstances have now changed. Christine must confront the weight of her broken promise and the consequences of choosing wealth over love. Ib’s steadfast loyalty and quiet dignity stand in stark contrast to her former husband’s ruined ambitions. The villagers observe the reunion, and the simplicity of their former life becomes the only path forward. Ib offers Christine not judgment, but the chance to rebuild what she left behind. Having learned the emptiness of riches without fidelity, Christine accepts the humble future that Ib still offers her.
37The emperor's new suit
Two swindlers arrive in the imperial capital and claim they can weave a suit with a magical property: it remains invisible to anyone who is unfit for their office or unforgivably foolish. The emperor,consumed by his obsession with fine clothing, commissions the suit and pays them a large advance. The swindlers set up looms and pretend to work, though they weave nothing at all. The emperor sends his honest old minister to inspect the fabric. The minister sees empty looms but, unwilling to admit his supposed incompetence, praises the nonexistent cloth. The swindlers demand more silk and gold thread, which they pocket. The emperor sends another trusted official, who also sees nothing but reports back false admiration. When the emperor himself visits, he too sees no fabric but fears being thought a fool or unfit to rule, so he praises the suit. The swindlers then pretend to dress the emperor in the new garment, and the emperor walks in a grand procession through the city. The crowd, not wanting to appear foolish, all cheer and comment on the magnificent suit until a child shouts that the emperor wears nothing at all. Murmurs spread through the crowd as others repeat the child’s words, and the emperor shivers, realizing the deception but continuing the procession to maintain his dignity.
38Episode 38
39The ice maiden (Ferone's worries)
The second part of the Ice Maiden adaptation continues the story of the Swiss hunter Rudy and his love for Babette. The cruel Ice Maiden actively schemes to separate the couple and claim Rudy for her frozen kingdom. Rudy resists her supernatural lures,his affection for Babette serving as his anchor. Babette faces her own emotional trials as the Ice Maiden's influence reaches into her life. The episode develops the conflict between human love and the Ice Maiden's possessive obsession. Former nanny of the Ice Maiden provides assistance in the antagonist's efforts to break the couple apart. Rudy's determination solidifies as he confronts the magical threats directly. The Ice Maiden escalates her tactics, moving from temptation to more direct interference. Each character's loyalty and fear are tested as the supernatural winter encroaches on their world. The episode closes with the Ice Maiden preparing a final, vengeful scheme against the pair.
40Episode 40
Children in a Greek village gather at the market square to listen to a traveling storyteller. The old man tells them about the marble statue standing behind him,a sculpture of a young woman. He recounts the story of the sculptor who created it many years ago. The young sculptor carved the statue as a memorial to his great love, a woman named Psyche. He had fallen in love with her beauty and spirit, but circumstances separated them before he could confess his feelings. Psyche died young, leaving the sculptor with only his memories and his art to express his devotion. He poured all his grief and love into the marble, shaping it into her likeness. The sculptor placed the finished statue in the village square so her presence would never leave the community. The children listen silently as the storyteller concludes the tale, looking at the statue with new understanding. The storyteller leaves the square as dusk falls, and the children return to their homes carrying the story with them. The next morning, a young boy from the village sees the statue bathed in morning light and remembers the sculptor's enduring devotion.
41Episode 41
The Ice Maiden continues her pursuit of the Swiss hunter Rudy,determined to claim him for her icy kingdom. Rudy remains devoted to Babette, the woman he loves, and resists the supernatural force's allure. The Ice Maiden employs cunning strategies to separate the couple and weaken Rudy's resolve. She manipulates circumstances to create obstacles between Rudy and Babette, testing the strength of their bond. Rudy confronts each challenge by reaffirming his commitment to Babette, refusing to yield to the Ice Maiden's machinations. The Ice Maiden's former nanny assists her in devising schemes to break the lovers apart. Despite these efforts, Rudy's love for Babette proves stronger than the Ice Maiden's deceptive tactics. The Ice Maiden's plans fail to achieve their intended result, leaving her frustrated in her attempts. Her failure to win Rudy through cunning deepens her determination to possess him by any means necessary. The episode concludes with the Ice Maiden vowing revenge, setting the stage for a more direct and dangerous confrontation.
42Episode 42
Marte and Svane meet each night under an old street lamp to play together. The two children keep these encounters secret from others. Marte secretly believes he is not worth enough for Svane. Svane secretly believes she is not worth enough for Marte. Neither child shares this doubt with the other. Their games under the lamp continue without either acknowledging the unspoken feelings. The nightly meetings become a ritual defined by what remains unsaid. Marte and Svane part each night without addressing the gap between their actions and their private fears. The children’s belief in their own unworthiness creates a barrier their friendship cannot cross. Their separate,identical doubts prevent them from understanding they share the same hesitation. The episode leaves Marte and Svane still meeting under the lamp, still hiding their true feelings from each other.
43Episode 43
44Episode 44
45Episode 45
46Episode 46
47Episode 47
48The Snow Queen
Gerda continues her journey to rescue her friend Kay from the Snow Queen's palace. She encounters a Lapp woman and a Finn woman,who provide her with directions and information about Kay's location. The Finn woman explains that Kay remains under the Snow Queen's power because of a splinter of the devil's mirror lodged in his heart and eye. Gerda receives no magical assistance but is told that her pure heart is her greatest strength. She braves the icy wasteland alone, reaching the Snow Queen's grand palace. Inside, she finds Kay sitting motionless, trying to form the word "eternity" from pieces of ice. Gerda cries tears of joy upon finding him, and her tears wash away the splinter of glass from his heart. Kay recognizes Gerda, and they escape the palace together. The Snow Queen does not return to stop them, allowing the children to leave freely. They return to the Lapp woman's home and then make their way back to their hometown, where they reunite with the grandmother and discover that the roses are blooming again. The episode concludes with Gerda and Kay sitting together, but Kay's memory of the Snow Queen and his ordeal remains a lingering shadow between them.
49Episode 49
Two children,Marte and Svane, meet each night under an old street lamp to play. Both keep their feelings hidden because each secretly believes they are not worthy of the other. Marte believes Svane deserves someone better than her. Svane holds the same belief about himself, creating a silent barrier between them. Their nightly meetings continue with unspoken affection trapped beneath self-doubt. Neither child acts on their feelings, allowing insecurity to dictate their silence. The story shows two parallel fears preventing a simple connection. The consequences of their inaction leave their relationship frozen in place. Marte and Svane remain trapped by their own assumptions, unable to bridge the distance their doubts have created. The next episode follows a Greek village storyteller who recounts the legend of a statue a sculptor created in memory of his great love, Psyche.
50Episode 50
51Episode 51
52Episode 52
On a freezing New Year's Eve,a poor girl named Anna walks barefoot through the snowy streets, unable to sell any matches. She fears returning home because her father will beat her for failing. To warm herself, she sits in a corner and lights one match. The flame shows her a vision of a warm iron stove. Each new match conjures another cherished image: a roasted goose, a grand Christmas tree, and finally her deceased grandmother, the only person who treated her with kindness. Desperate to keep her grandmother from disappearing, Anna lights the entire bundle of matches. The vision of her grandmother lifts her into the sky, away from the cold. The next morning, townsfolk find Anna frozen in the snow, a smile on her face. The two pixies, Candy and Zukko, witness her fate from a distance, unable to alter the story's course despite their usual attempts. The episode ends with Anna’s spirit reunited with her grandmother, closing the series with a somber acceptance of the tale's original tragic conclusion.
Cast
Comment(s)
Staff
  • Series Director
    Masami Hata
  • Episode Director
    Takeyuki Kanda
    Taku Sugiyama
    Wataru Mizusawa
    Makura Saki
    Noboru Ishiguro
    Mitsuo Kobayashi
    Kazunori Tanahashi
    Keizou Kira
    Ichiro Fujito
    Katsukazu Nishitani
    Mitsuo Kamina
    Kazuko Nakamura
    Nobuo Kosugi
  • Character Design
    Shūichi Seki
  • Director of Photography
    Tateo Haraya
  • Music
    Seiichirō Uno
Production
  • Production
    Fuji Television Network
    Mushi Production
    Zuiyo Enterprise
  • Animation Production
    Mushi Production
Music
Ending
“Chianti no Uta (Chianti's Song)”
Eiko Masuyama with Young Fresh
“Zucco no Uta (Zucco's Song)”
Yasuo Yamada with Young Fresh